[Grammar] than they were originally published

[kadioguy]

In the Collins Dictionary, it says:

digest
N-COUNT
A digest is a collection of pieces of writing. They are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published.
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a. If I write 'They are published together in a shorter form than were originally published', is it acceptable?
(I do so because I compare it to this construction 'There is more food than is needed.' )

b. If I write 'They are published together in a shorter form than originally published', is it acceptable?

 

[GoesStation]

In the Collins Dictionary, it says:

digest
N-COUNT
A digest is a collection of pieces of writing. They are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published in.
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a. If I write 'They are published together in a shorter form than were originally published', is it acceptable? :cross:
(I do so because I compare it to this construction 'There is more food than is needed.' )

b. If I write 'They are published together in a shorter form than originally published', is it acceptable? :tick:

See above. I think Collins's definition omitted a word. In version A the verb doesn't agree with the subject "form". I think B is okay because in this condensed language, we can accept that was was omitted for brevity.

 

[kadioguy]

In version A the verb doesn't agree with the subject "form".

Isn't the subject "They" (a collection of pieces of writing)?

 

[Matthew Wai]

... in a shorter form than the form which was originally published.

 

[kadioguy]

In version A the verb doesn't agree with the subject "form".

So if I write ''They are published together in a shorter form than was originally published', is it acceptable?'

 

[kadioguy]

I think B is okay because in this condensed language, we can accept that was was omitted for brevity.

Can we see version B as the situation where they were was omitted for brevity?

 

[Matthew Wai]

They are published together in a shorter form than (the form) originally published.

I think we are comparing two forms rather than comparing the shorter form and 'They'.

 

[kadioguy]

They are published together in a shorter form than (the form) originally published.

I think we are comparing two forms rather than comparing the shorter form and 'They'.

So can we see version B as the situation where it was was omitted for brevity?

But in the original sentence it says they are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published . (not it)

Why not 'They are published together in a shorter form than (they were) originally published.'?

 

[GoesStation]

So if I write ''They are published together in a shorter form than was originally published', is it acceptable?'

It's okay.

 

[Matthew Wai]

But in the original sentence it says they are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published .

They are published together in a shorter form than the form they were originally published in.
That's how I understand the original sentence.

 

[kadioguy]

I try to draw a conclusion. Could you please help me review if it is correct?
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In the Collins Dictionary:

digest
N-COUNT
A digest is a collection of pieces of writing. They are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published (in).
-------------------
We can rewrite it to:

a. ...They are published together in a shorter form than originally published (in).
b. ...They are published together in a shorter form than was originally published (in).
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We can see b. as this:
...They are published together in a shorter form than (the form that was) originally published (in).

We can see a. as the omission from b.:
...They are published together in a shorter form than (was) originally published (in).

In other words, We can see a. as this:
...They are published together in a shorter form than (the form that was) originally published (in).

But we should not see a. as this:
They are published together in a shorter form than (they were) originally published (in).

(The reason is that we are comparing two forms rather than comparing the shorter form and 'They'.)

Plus a. can be seen as this:
They are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published (in) (the form).

 

[GoesStation]

Write I'm trying to or I will try....

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would write 'please check if ...' instead of 'please help me review if ...'.